A Comparison of Biomechanical Variables, Neuromuscular Control and Strength during Controlled and Unexpected Falls on the Outstretched Hands in Young and Older Women
Date
2017-01-17
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Purpose: This thesis evaluated the age differences in biomechanics and muscle activity during controlled and unexpected descents simulating a fall on the outstretched hands (FOOSH) in women. Laboratory simulation using two different protocols investigated this common mechanism of injury in older and younger women. The primary purpose of the controlled descent (FOOSH 1) was to examine the differences between young and older women to control the post-impact phase of a forward fall descent at three body angles. The primary purpose of the unexpected descent (FOOSH 2) was to examine biomechanical and muscle activity age differences in pre-impact, impact and post-impact phases of a simulated FOOSH.
Methods: FOOSH 1 was a cross sectional study comparing twenty healthy young (mean 24.8±3.4 yrs.) and 18 healthy older (68.4±5.7 yrs.) women performing controlled descents on outstretched arms at three body lean angles (60, 45, and 30° from horizontal) and a muscle strength test of the non-dominant UE [isometric (ISO) concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC)] using an isokinetic dynamometer. FOOSH 2, also a cross sectional design, evaluated twenty young (mean age 22.9 yrs., SD±3.7) and 16 older (mean age 68.1yrs., SD ±5.0) women performing five trials of unexpected FOOSHs at a body lean angle of 60° from horizontal with the same muscle strength testing protocol. A three-dimensional motion capture system (VICON Nexus, VICON, Centennial, CO) and force plate apparatus (OR6-7, AMTI, Watertown, MA) was used to determine the biomechanical measures of peak energy absorption, maximum vertical force, maximum elbow angle and maximum elbow joint extensor moment. Additional biomechanical measures of FOOSH 2 included: elbow angle and elbow angular velocity at impact, elbow joint stiffness, end elbow angle, and impulse. Surface EMG detected muscle activity of six muscle sites: anterior deltoid (AntDEL), pectoralis major (PM), triceps brachii (long head) (TRI), biceps brachii (BB), external oblique (EO) and internal oblique/transversus abdominus (IO/TrA).
Results: In FOOSH 1 and FOOSH 2, older women demonstrated decreased CON elbow extensor strength compared with younger women. During FOOSH 1, at all angles, the older women had increased BB activity and decreased EO activity. In FOOSH 2 older women had significantly less IO/TrA activity prior to impact than younger women. The women differed in landing strategy in that younger women had significantly greater elbow joint angle and velocity at impact. Older women demonstrated diminished capacity to absorb energy in both the controlled (30°) and unexpected descent. Significance of findings: This is the first study to investigate biomechanical and muscle activation age differences for a simulated controlled and unexpected forward descent in women. Older women demonstrate differences that could potentially increase their risk of injury during a forward fall. The results of these studies could help clinicians develop fall injury prevention protocols by considering the neuromuscular and biomechanical factors that are important to control a forward descent. The findings suggest that UE and trunk muscle strengthening may be important components to include in a fall injury prevention training program. The modulation of energy absorption capabilities by altering elbow velocity and increasing elbow flexion angles at impact may also be an injury prevention tactic to be adopted.
Description
Keywords
fall related injury, postural stability, upper extremity strength, muscle strength, muscle activity, accidental falls
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Kinesiology
Program
Kinesiology